Pinarello X – Head-to-head in our all-road group test

The Pinarello X promises a combination of form, function, elegance and performance, resulting in the ideal balance for an all-road bike. Considering the relatively affordable price point, it’s targeted at the slightly less affluent Pinarello fans. Can it deliver?

This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review

Albert Einstein is claimed to have said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” But to start moving, you’ll have to find your balance first. Designing and building a perfect all-road bike is a tough task that involves finding the right balance between lightness, dynamism, and versatility. It’s even harder for a brand with as much racing pedigree as Pinarello, sponsoring World Tour teams like INEOS-Grenadier. With the Pinarello X, the Italian company have set themselves the goal of creating a long-distance bike offering both comfort and performance, that’s fun to ride on rough roads. Their bikes have sometimes become status symbols, with prices often starting at well above € 10,000. Fortunately, however, The Pinarello X is considerably more affordable, with prices ranging from € 3,680 to € 5,600, putting it squarely in the mid-range segment. Can you get a status symbol that’s affordable and strikes the perfect balance, or have Pinarello bitten off more than they can chew?

A parabola of prestige and potential – What is the Pinarello X capable of?

It’s organically curved tubes as far as the eye can see on the Pinarello X. Overall, this gives it a sleek yet striking, and typically Italian look. So, classic Pinarello then, and easily mistaken for the Pinarello F and Dogma F. You certainly wouldn’t guess that it’s marketed as an all-road bike. Due to the elegant, all-black design, the eye-catching lines and curves are somewhat less conspicuous. If you want to go all-out Italian style, opt for the Ferrari red finish. Either way, the Pinarello X looks like it’s been carved from a single block of material, which is partly due to the lack of bosses and eyelets on the frame. The striking tube shapes aren’t just there for style, but also function. The curved seat stays, so-called “flex stays”, and the heavily curved ONDA fork are said to offer increased compliance.

Despite the mid-range price point, the Pinarello X has some technical highlights to offer. The teardrop shaped, 120 mm Tiger TiCR stem features completely internal cable routing. The seat post relies on the same shape, which could even pass as an aero feature. You’ve got teardrop shaped “flaps” at the lower end of the fork, too, which are intended to minimise turbulence. Where Pinarello have economised on the X becomes clear when looking at the build spec: the Shimano 105 Di2 drivetrain is a reliable mid-class performer, offering an excellent gear range for a wide variety of use cases with the 50/34 t crankset and 11–34 t cassette. The aluminium Fulcrum Racing 800 wheelset, on the other hand, is more of an entry-level product, tipping the scales at 1,960 g according to the manufacturer’s specs. They’re responsible in large part for the bike’s considerable weight of 9.04 kg, putting it well above the test field average. The 32 mm Pirelli P7 Sport tires suit the Italian flair, but they don’t meet our all-road demands – a pair of Pirelli Cinturato Velos would have been the better choice. However, these would also be limited to 32 mm, because that’s the maximum width that the Pinarello X accommodates. The Pinarello X on test can be yours for € 5,600, making it an appealing option to a broader group of riders.

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Size	43	46	49	51,5	53	54,5	56	58	60
Seat tube	425 mm	450 mm	470 mm	595 mm	510 mm	525 mm	540 mm	560 mm	590 mm
Top tube	492 mm	509 mm	525 mm	536 mm	545 mm	555 mm	565 mm	577 mm	590 mm
Head tube	125 mm	130 mm	142 mm	151 mm	161 mm	173 mm	187 mm	211 mm	232 mm
Head angle	70.0°	70.5°	71.0°	71.5°	72.0°	72.3°	72.5°	72.5°	72.5°
Seat angle	75.3°	74.5°	74.0°	73.8°	73.5°	73.3°	73.0°	72.8°	72.5°
Chainstays	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm	415 mm
BB Drop	67 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	72 mm	67 mm	67 mm
Radstand	974 mm	981 mm	991 mm	992 mm	994 mm	1,000 mm	1,005 mm	1,017 mm	1,028 mm
Reach	342 mm	352 mm	362 mm	369 mm	373 mm	377 mm	380 mm	384 mm	388 mm
Stack	528 mm	539 mm	552 mm	564 mm	576 mm	588 mm	602 mm	620 mm	640 mm

Find your balance – How does the Pinarello X perform on the test track?

It is difficult not to get frustrated with the Pinarello X before you can even set off. To adjust the saddle height and handlebar roll on the stem, you need a T 15 Torx, but who has that on their multitool? Fortunately, it pays off: the bike feels dialled, and makes you want to keep on riding from the get-go. Thanks to the relatively short reach, the rather long stem works just fine, putting you in a nicely centred riding position. However, the occasional creak emitted by the seat post clamp gets very annoying, and it’s particularly noticeable on rough surfaces. The handling is superbly balanced, as is the riding position. If necessary, and with a little effort, the Pinarello X will navigate corners with agility, yet it doesn’t feel nervous on long straights and fast descents. Surprisingly, we didn’t notice the almost 2 kg wheels all that much, and the bike feels mostly nimble and agile even on the climbs.

The stand-out characteristic of the Pinarello X, however, is its excellent compliance. It’s comfortable on every kind of terrain, easily outperforming many of the other bikes on test – and that’s with skinny 32 mm tires and no additional damping elements such as those you’ll find on the Specialized, Trek, and Wilier. As such, bumpy roads and poorly maintained asphalt suddenly seem a lot less daunting. It’s too bad that the Pinarello X doesn’t have wider tire clearances, which would take the bike to the next level of all-road capability. A few mounting points wouldn’t hurt either, making it a more well-rounded package in terms of day-to-day utility and versatility.

The Pinarello X is destined for those who have always dreamed of owning a Pinarello but couldn’t afford the price or the aggressive riding position.

Who is the Pinarello X for?

If you’ve always wanted a bike from Pinarello, but don’t want to spend a small fortune, you can now fulfil this dream with the Pinarello X. Fans of that classic Italian flair will also get their money’s worth. But this all-road bike offers more than just looks and prestige, as it’s supremely comfortable and a pleasure to ride. If you’re fine with the 32 mm tire clearance, you get a lot of all-road performance and can have a lot of fun. The Pinarello X is a great choice for those who like Pinarello but aren’t into racing.

Tuning tip: A lightweight wheelset and more puncture resistant tires for a livelier and more reliable all-road feel.

Conclusion on the Pinarello X

Pinarello have hit a home run in the mid-range segment with the Pinarello X. It almost strikes the perfect balance between comfort, handling, and performance. Even the € 5,660 price point is ok, considering that it’s a Pinarello, making it the third most affordable bike on test. In return, you get a mid-range build, specced with reliable components, and offering unbeatable comfort. For the perfect ride-life balance, all that’s missing are a few mounting points and increased tire clearance.

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You can find out more about at pinarello.com

The testfield

This bike was tested as part of our 2023 all-road group test – you can find an overview of the group test and the featured bikes over here: The best all-road bike of 2023 – 10 all-road bikes in review

All bikes on review: Argon 18 Krypton (Click for review) | Merida Scultura Endurance 9000 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos² (Click for review) | Pinarello X | Rondo Ratt CF (Click for review) | Rose Reveal Plus (Click for review) | Scott Solace eRide 10 (Click for review) | Specialized Roubaix Comp (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 7 AXS Gen 4 (Click for review) | Wilier Granturismo SLR (Click for review)

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Words: Martin Staffa Photos: Jan Richter